PolyControls to open metal AM facility by February 2020

Quebec-based metrology and process automation firm, Polycontrols, is partnering with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to build a collaborative research facility. The Poly/CSAM facility is intended to help researchers and manufacturers study and deploy cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) technology.

The facility will be located at the NRC’s Boucherville site in Quebec and is expected to open in February 2020. The NRC will also offer support technology development and provide strategic advice and technical services.

“Polycontrols is eager to leverage its proven track record in thermal and cold spray implementation (aerospace and surface transportation industries) to showcase its capabilities as a large-scale manufacturing integrator offering custom equipment platforms with the objective of bringing disruptive technologies such as hybrid robotic manufacturing, data analytics and machine learning (supported by Artificial Intelligence) to the shop floor,” said François Cordeau, VP of Transportation and Manufacturing at the NRC. “We see Poly/CSAM as a way to strengthen Canada’s industrial leadership in cold spray additive manufacturing and becoming more agile and competitive on the national and international scene.”

In total, Poly/CSAM will offer a combination of technologies such as surface preparation; coating and 3D buildup by cold spray; local, laser-based thermal treatment; in-situ robotic machining and surface finishing; state-of-the-art sensor technologies; extensive data logging and analytics; and machine learning.

Polycontrols launched this first phase of its six-year growth initiative based on a $4 million initial investment from Investissement Québec, the Business Development Bank of Canada and Bank of Montreal.
www.polycontrols.com